Journal box for railroad vehicles



Jan. 13, 1931, c. H. APPS I 1,789,092

JOURNAL BOX FOR RAILROAD VEHICLES Filed June 6, 1928 zTlcflssss. 2 M

atented Jan. 13, 131

JOURN BOX FOR RAILRO VEHICLES Application flled lune 6, 1928. Seriai No. 288,234.

This invention relates generally to boxes in which the axle journals of railro'advehicles are mounted, and particularly to the bearings thereof. The object of the invenfi tion is to provide, in a journal boxof conventional form and dimensions,ya simple and efficient bearing member,;which will attain the advantages of presenting the maximum attainable area of bearing surface; will ber of ready application and removal, as deor ,in the box will eliminate necessity for an outer stationary bushing; will present wide cylindrical surfaces on the sides of the lubricant cellar; and which will enable the bushing to be removed vertically without the necessity of lifting the body of the vehicle from the wheels or dropping the wheels into a it.

The im rovement claimed is hereinafter fully set orth.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a view, half in front elevation, and half in vertical transverse section, on the line a a of 25 Fig. 2, of a journal box illustrating an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2, a view, half in side elevation, and half in vertical section, on the line b b of Fig.1, of the same; Fig. 3, a half plan or'top view; Fig. 4, an isometrical view of the journal bearing, de- 'tached; and, Fig. 5, a partial vertical section, on the line 0 c of Fig. 3.

In the practice of the invention, referring thereof which is herein exemplified, the 'ournal box frame, 1, is of conventional orm, 'and has, fitted within it, a journal bearing, 2, hereinafter described, and a lubricant cellar, 3, which is connected, detachably, to the journal box by bolts, 3a, and nuts, 3b, and'fis', similarly to the axle box, of convntional" form.

The journal box frame 1, i's'made in one piece and comprises-a top cross portion 1a, two spaced legs 11), and a cylindrical bore 10', dis osedpartially in the cross portion 1a, an partially in the legs 16'. The bore 1c', ha's a gap atits bottom to permit vertical removal of the'sections of the bushing 2, and isv made greater than 180 in cross secsired; willnot be binding on the axle journal.

descriptively to the specific ,embodiment tion so that'the box frame will present a solid structure at the area above and below the horizontal diameter of the axle. This solid form of construction enables the box frame to efficiently withstand the severe stresses resulting from piston thrusts, which stresses are at their maximum on a line coincident with the horizontal diameter of the axl. In certain constructions heretofore known, the box frame has been divided into two parts at the horizontal diameter of the axle, thus presenting a two piece bearing face which is required to withstand the heavy stresses encountered in service, and which produces relatively rapid wearing of the bushing.

The journal bearings, 2, is in the form of a cylinder, which completely surrounds the axle journal, and, to admit ofinsertion in, and removal from'the journal box, vertically, is split, radially, into three sections. A. plurality of apertures, 2a, for the passage of lubricant to the journal, is formed in each of the sections. The journal bearing is fitted freely inthe journal box and on the journal, so as to have the capacity of floating therein and thereon, thatis to say, of movement relative thereto about its axial line. Movement, in axial direction, of the bearing, is prevented by shoulders, 2b formed on the sections, by slightly reducing their radial dimensions, adjacent to their ends, said shoulders fitting against corresponding shoulders, 1a, on the axle box. The journal bearing and journal may be lubricated either from the subjacent lubricant cellar, 3, or from the top of the journal box. The width of the lubricant cellar is less than the diameter of the bearing, and lateral wings, 3e, curved to the radius of the bearing fittingagainst it, and extending to the sidewalls of the journal box, project; from'the top of the cellar. The lubricant cellar serves in theusual manner, as a recep tacle, "for a cake of hard grease, which is supported upon a plate, 30, and pressed The described construction is particularly advantageous for use with crank axles of three cylinder locomotives and with locomotives employing Stevenson valve gear, as it enables the floating bushing to be removed in sections vertically between thelegs of the box without the necessity of dropping the wheels or lifting the boxes clear of the axles.

Lubricant may be supplied to the journal bearing from oil pockets, 1b, in the top of the journal box, said oil pockets being closed by removable caps, 10, and communicating with the journal bearing throu h passages, 105, leading to its periphery. assages 1e, leading from the passages 1d, provide for lubricating the hub bearing face of the box, and

passa es 1;, leading from the passages 1d, provi e for lubricating the pedestal faces of the box. This construction enables the floating bushing, and the hub face and a pedestal face of the box, all to receive lubrication from each of the oil pockets lb. The caps 10, may be of the well-known alemite type enabling grease under pressure to be forced .in the pockets 1?).

The invention claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In ajournal box device, the. combination of an integral box frame of substantially inverted U-shape form having a top cross portion, a pair of spaced legs depending from the top portion, and a cylindrical bearing bore disposed partially in the top portion and partially in each leg and terminating at the inner side of the legs to provi'de a gap for the removal of bushing sections downwardly between the legs, the said bore being greater than 180 in transverse section; a floating cylindrical bushing fitted in the bore and bridging the gap and divided lon itudinally into at least three sections eac of a width less than the width of the gap; and detachable means disposed between the legs of the box and affording support to the portion of the bushing bridging the gap.

2. In a journal box device, the combination of an integral box frame of substantially inverted U-shape form having a top cross portion, a pair of spaced legs;depending from the top portion, and a cylindrical hearing how disposed partially in the top portion and partially in each 1e and Iterminating at the inner side of t e-v legs to provide a gap fortheremoval of bushing sections, the said'{ bore being greater than 180 in transverseisection; a floatin cylindrical bus-hing fitted in the bore an bridg ing the gap and divided longitudinallyinto at least" three sections each of a width less than the width of the gap; and detachable means disposed between the legs of the box' and directly affording support to the portion of the bushing bridging the gap.

3. In a journal box device, the combination of an integral box frame of substantially inverted U-shape form havin a top cross portion, a pair of'spaced legs e anding from the top portion, and a cylin rical bearing bore disposed partially in the top portion and partially in each 1e and terminating at the inner side of t e legs to provide a gap for the removal of bushing sections, the said bore being reater than 180 in transverse section; a fl ating cylindrical bushing fitted in the bore and bridging the gap and divided longitudinally into at least three sections each of a width less than the width of the gap; ahd a lubricant cellar disposed between the legs of the box and afi'ording support to the portion of the bushing bridging the ga 4. In a journal box evice, the combination of an integral box frame of substantially inverted U-shape form havin a top cross portion, a pair of paced legs 5e bearing bore disposed partially in the top portion and partially in each-leg and terminating at the inner side of the legs to pending from the top portion, and a cylindrical" width of the gap; and a lubricant cellar dis- 7 posed between the legs of the box and directly afl'ording support to the portion of the bushing bridging the gap.

5. In a. ournal box device, the combina-" tion of an integral box frame of substantially inverted U-shape form having a top cross portion, a pair of spaced legs epending from the top portion, and a cylindrical bearing bore disposed, partially in the top" portion and partially in each leg and terminating at the inner side of the legs, to provide a gap for the removal of bushing sections, the said bore being greater than 180 in transverse section; a floating cylindrical bushing fitted in the bore and bridgingthe gap and divided longitudinally into at least three sections each of a width less than the width of the gap; a lubricant cellar disposed between the legs of the box and affording support to the ortion of the bushing bridging the gap an insertable and removable vertically of the box; and means for fastening the cellar to the box and refmclilvable vertically of the box to release the 'ce ar.

6. In a journal box device, the combination of an integral axle box of substantially inverted U-shape form having a top cross portion, a pair of spaced legs depending.

from the top portion and a c lindrical bearing bore disposed partially in thetop poi tion and partially in each leg and terminating at the inner sides of the legs, to provide a gap for theremoval ofbushing sections,

iguana:

the said bore greater than 180 in transverse section; a floating cylindrical bushing fitted in the bore and bridging the gap, and divided longitudinally into at least three sections'each o a width less than the width of the gap; and-a; lubricant cellar disposed between the legs of the box and having lateral wings supporting .the bushing said wings having longitudinal grooves adapted to distribute lubricant over the bushing.

' 7. In a journal box device, the combination of an integral box frame. of substantially inverted U-shape form having a to? cross portion, a pair of spaced le e 11 ing from the top rtion, a cylin rical aring bore disposed partiall 1n the top portion and partially in each eg and terminating at the inner side of the le to provide v a gap for the removal of bus ing-sections downwardly between the legs, the said bore being greater than 180 in transverse section, and an arcuate flange at each end of the bore projecting inwardly thereof and adapted to restrain longitudinal movement of a cylindrical bushing; a floatin cylindrical, bushing fitted in the bore an bridging' thega and divided longitudinally into at least t ree sections each having a-width less so than the width oi the gap said bushing having a circular eripheral recess at each end adapted to receive one of the arcuate flanges of the box frame; and a lubricant cellar detachably fitted between the legs of the box and having lateral arcuate wings forsupporting the floating bushing and arcuate flanges at each end mating with the arcuate flanges ofthe box frame and adapted to fit within the peripheral recesses of the bushems. H. APPS, 

